Historical Statements of the Koran [pp. 195-230]

Historical Statements of the Koran.
contemporaries, and remained among them "a thousand years
save fifty."* The only persons, who submitted to his guidance were obscure and abject; the nobles and the wealthy
stood aloof. At length it was revealed to Noah, that all had
believed who would believe, and he was directed to construct
a vessel. While engaged upon this task, he was treated with
general derision and contempt. At last the appointed time
arrived, "and the oven poured forth boiling water."t The
narrative then proceeds as follows: "We said unto Noah, carry
into the ark of every kind of animal one pair, and thine own
family (excepting him on whom sentence had already passed)
and those who believe. And there believed not with him
except a few. And Noah said, embark upon it in the name
of God, while it floats and while it is at rest. Surely my
Lord is merciful and gracious. And it floated with them
upon waves like mountains; atfd Noah called to his son who
was separated from them, Oh my son embark with us and be
not with the unbelievers. He said, I will ascend a mountain which will secure me from the water. He said, there is
no security to day from the decree of God except for him on
whom he shall have mercy. And a wave passed between
them, and he was one of the drowned. And it was said,
oh earth swallow up thy water, and oh heaven withhold!
And the water subsided, and the decree was accomplished,
and it (the ark) rested on Al Judi; and it was said, away with
the ungodly people! And Noah called upon his Lord and
said, oh my Lord, my son is one of my family, and thy promise is true, for thou art the most just of those who judge.
God said, Noah, he is not one of thy family; this is not a
righteous work (viz. his intercession). Ask not of me that
of which thou hast no knowledge, I admonish thee not to be
one of the ignorant."T Noah then acknowledges his fault,
leaves the ark, and receives a benediction. At the close of
the history the prophets adds, as if apprehensive that some
of the faithful might have been beforehand with him, c"This
is a secret history which we reveal unto thee; thou didst not
know it, neither did thy people before this."~
With respect to Abraham,~ there are many statements and
allusions in the Koran. The substance of his history is this.
While yet a boy, he was led to disbelieve in the idolatrous religion of his father and his countrymen. Having secretly
* xxix. 14.
~ xi. 49.
t xi. 40.
~ Ibrahim.
: xi. 40-46.
~ 203